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East Midlands Airport Taxis and Transport

East Midlands Airport is in the middle of nowhere. The surrounding fields hug the M1 motorway as it roars past the lone runway, creeping towards Leicester and Coventry, and big old London beyond that, upsetting the rabbits and mice stuck on the central reservation.

It’s a small site, possessed of a single terminal, but one of the most important regional airports in the country, providing holidays and business opportunities for people all over the Midlands, from families in Derby, to bank executives in Loughborough.

With such a burden of responsibility, the transport services surrounding East Midlands are important assets to the facility, helping airport bosses fill planes with customers, boxes of shoes and hats in tow, and with crates of handsome vegetables, ready for sale in other areas of the country.

Choosing an East Midlands Airport Taxi

Of course, getting to and from East Midlands Airport is of primary concern for travellers, and the local taxi services are well suited to catering for your needs, regardless of how many suitcases you’ve managed to stuff with flip-flops and high heels.

Saloon cars, as well as executive Mercedes, and minibuses, designed to hold up to forty people, are available from specialist airport taxi firms in all the cities surrounding East Midlands. Prices vary, but a trip to Leicester in a standard Ford Mondeo costs in the region of £32 per car, increasing to £52 if a larger vehicle is required.

A taxi ride to Derby, a city famous for its Championship football team, Derby County, is slightly cheaper, at £25 for a saloon car and £37 for a minibus. Prices for Nottingham are comparable to those for Leicester.

It is advisable to contact taxi companies direct with your particular requirements, as prices can change without notice, sometimes depending on how heavy your hat box is!

When using private hire minicabs check whether there are charges depending on how much luggage you have, the total distance between two points. Black cabs should also be used in moderation, if only to protect your bank balance.

Airport access is limited, but East Midlands does have a ‘kiss and fly’ point in the short stay car park, just a few metres from the main terminal building. Taxis are welcome in drop-off zones, but all vehicles must vacate the car park within ten minutes or pay £1.80 for an extra half an hour.

Somewhere to Visit

Leicester is a haven of Roman archaeology, and there are plenty of unusual places to visit. The Jewry Wall, for example, a two thousand year old structure located two miles from the city centre, is the last remnant of a first century bathhouse, a place of relaxation and sloth, and an important aspect of Roman life.

Abbey Park, one of three enormous public parks in the centre of Leicester, is a favourite haunt of first year archaeology students during the summer, and protects the remains of a 12th century abbey, buried just beneath the verdant grass. The park is a twenty-five mile journey from the airport, and could set you back £40. A taxi from the city centre should cost no more than £5, however.

The Walkers Stadium, affectionately known as the ‘’Crisp Bowl’’, is the home ground of Leicester City football team, and a magnet for local sports fans. With the Welford Road rugby stadium just up the road, match days can get a little hectic, but the bright colours and loud songs are welcome distractions from the quiet summer, when the local students go home. The two stadia sit within eight hundred metres of each other, and twenty miles from the airport.

A third sports stadium can be found at Pride Park, Derby, the home of the aforementioned Derby County. The city may not have the ancient history of Leicester, but the village of Darley Abbey on the outskirts of Derby is a haven far removed from the clamour of the football fans and the road works on the M1.

Located two miles from the city centre, Darley Abbey boasts an impressive eighty-acre park, and myriad churches and old buildings that will have visitors reaching for their cameras. The Abbey Pub, a low rambling structure formed from the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, is a unique place to hide from the driving rain.

Of course, the city of Nottingham should not be overlooked. The Victoria Shopping Centre has 120 different stores, ranging from pharmacies to toyshops, to giant department stores like House of Frasier and John Lewis. Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Arena are also very popular with visitors, just fifteen miles from East Midlands Airport.

Pros and Cons

For company bigwigs and nervous business types looking to make an impression on their new boss, a number of premium taxi firms operate in the East Midlands area, providing a meet and greet service from handsome chauffeurs, well-dressed and well-versed in the rules of the road.

Executive cars are more expensive, but come fully loaded with a range of extras, including in-car entertainment, refreshments, and free internet access, allowing you to brush up on your social networking skills on the move. Of course, the shiny new Mercedes is reason enough to book a premium taxi.

It is important to be aware of the differences between the taxi services on offer, as the fee will reflect the size or style of the vehicle.

Streetcars are ideal for one or two people, whereas minibuses are spacious, but utilitarian, providing customers with little more than a handful of seats and a steering wheel. Many taxi drivers will meet you (in person) at the terminal or even at immigration if they have sufficient security clearance.

Frequent flyers also have the option of setting up an account with a favourite taxi firm, permitting the use of online booking forms and credit card payments. This is especially useful for corporate customers who have to attend regular meetings in distant towns and cities.